Could the Yankee farm system have a streaker?

Last night's 4-1 despoliation of big-spending Boston brought us richly deserved pleasure on multiple physical, mental and spiritual planes. I'm not complaining. No way. But like Arabian masters who carefully weave one glitch into each rug - to not piss off Allah - this wondrous Yankee victory remained imperfect.

I'm referring to J.A. Happ's five-inning start, which looks good on paper - one run, a win - but shook like Oklahoma after a night of bareback fracking. While the YES men cooed over Dellin Betances' impending return - fortifying what they view as a bullpen of Olympian gods - we cannot dismiss concerns over a rotation that consistently sputters in the Daily News, no, Post Time fifth.

Recently, the Death Star has twice won with starters (Paxton & Hale) lasting only four innings, before decamping to the washroom. When you win, all is forgiven. But make no mistake: There is no path to a World Series with starters unable to deliver more than five innings. The bullpen burns out. 

That's why I'm on my high-horse about signing Dallas Keuchel. I'll spare you the argument: Let's just say that July-August can torture a staff, and an innings-eater like Keuchel (who faced more batters last year than anyone else in baseball) would relieve that stress.

But last night, two farm system events have offered another form of hope. 

At Scranton, Chance Adams threw six scoreless innings against the always feared Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs. (Affiliation: Phillies. Biggest name: Andrew Romine, 33. Home: Allentown.) Chance struck out three, allowed four hits, and walked nobody. That's right: Nada. After a terrible start to 2019, Adams has now delivered four excellent starts : 3 ER in 24 IP. With the Yankees, he gave up 3 ER in 7 IP. Last year was an injury-riddled abomination. If Adams has returned to the form he showed in 2017, (11-5, 2.89 at Scranton), we might just have something. He won't be the ace; but he could definitely provide spot starts in a David Phelps sort of way. Also, he's on the MLB roster, an easy call-up.

But Adams didn't offer last night's most-head-turning performance. Pitching for Double A Trenton, Albert Abreu - one of the two hyped arms we received from Houston in the 2016 trade of Brian McCann, (the other went to Miami for Giancarlo Stanton) -  went 7 shutout innings, giving up 2 hits. He struck out six, walked two. 

Abreu regularly pops up high on Yankee prospect lists. I've figured this might be the Yankees applying lipstick to a pig trade. Statistically, he hasn't done it. And looking at his past, we should expect him to get pummeled next time out. But last night was Abreu's best outing of the season, by far - maybe of the last two seasons - and it surely sent a warm shiver through Brian Cashman's root stem. 

If, say, Abreu has finally figured out whatever it is that pitching coaches are supposed to teach... well, who knows? The beauty of Double A and Triple A is that players are an injury or a hot streak from the Show. If Abreu keeps it up, he'll be in Scranton soon. From there... who knows?

Okay, you're right: I'm reading wa-a-a-y too much into two performances in far flung reaches of the Yankiverse. But with or without Keuchel, the Death Star needs innings the way Mars needs women. It sure would be sweet if the farm system pulled something out of its butt that doesn't wreck the punch bowl. Last night brought two rays of hope. Plus, a damn nice victory... imperfect, of course, to appease You Know Who.